FOOTBALLFOOTBALLFANTASYFANTASY

R O S S S I M M O N D S | W W W. R O S S S I M M O N D S .C O M

F R O M M O R E T H A N 8 Y E A R S O F 6 BUSINESS LESSONS 6 BUSINESS LESSONS 6 BUSINESS LESSONS 6 BUSINESS LESSONS

Have you ever thought about how our hobbies can serve as teaching tools for the skills we apply to our every day and

professional lives?

Consider a ballerina, for example, who learns discipline and hard work through hours of practice and rehearsal before a live performance.

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Or a gamer, who is taught how to gather information and solve problems while trying

to reach the next level in a video game.

For years now, I’ve had a big passion for football. In fact, that’s exactly where my obsession with

social media and technology all started.

I’ve been a Fantasy Football junkie ever since.

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I first got involved with Fantasy Football during University when I ran a profitable blog that ultimately led me on a path to

entrepreneurship and technology.

19 million people compete in Fantasy Football every year.

It’s estimated that...

19 million people compete in Fantasy Football every year.

Studies show that $1.1 Billion is lost in productivity every week of the 17 week

NFL Season because of Fantasy Football.

I believe that while productivity might take a hit, there are some quality business

lessons that can be taken from Fantasy Football.

BUSINESS LESSONS IN FANTASY FOOTBALLKnow When to Hold’em,

Know When to Fold’emNever Bench Your StudsRemove All Personal BiasIdentify Potential Issues Before They AriseEvery Week is a New Week

Be Willing To Take Risks

KNOW WHEN TO HOLD’EM, KNOW WHEN TO FOLD’EM

In fantasy football, you take part in a draft before the season to build your team. If, as the season progresses, one of your

players isn’t living up to expectations or gets injured, you must decide to wait and let them shake the rust, or

trade/drop them before the damage is done.

Know When to Hold’em,Know When to Fold’emNever Bench Your StudsRemove All Personal BiasIdentify Potential Issues

Before They AriseEvery Week is a New WeekBe Willing To Take Risks

KNOW WHEN TO HOLD’EM, KNOW WHEN TO FOLD’EM

While in Fantasy it’s often easier to just keep the player, in business the stakes are a lot higher and, thus, waiting on

something, or even someone, that might not pan out could result in the loss of dollars and/or your business.

KNOW WHEN TO HOLD’EM, KNOW WHEN TO FOLD’EM

The idea of “hire slow, fire fast” has become a mainstream mantra for many entrepreneurs, consultants and professionals. It’s a great philosophy to live by and one that you should embrace but have the processes in place to know when you can invest in someone

or something and when you need to walk away.

NEVER BENCHYOUR STUDS

When you’re looking for a win in Fantasy Football, it’s much better to play a future hall of famer who hasn’t played well the last two weeks

than it is to play a no name on a hot streak.

Likewise in business, you must do whatever it takes to keep your top talent passionate, engaged and motivated to achieve success.

NEVER BENCHYOUR STUDS

A star will perform best when he/she is: 1. challenged 2. given freedom, and 3. surrounded by intelligent people

You never bench them. The studs on your team need to be celebrated, invested in and rewarded.

REMOVE ALLPERSONAL BIAS

In Fantasy Football, you come up against an internal battle, especially on weeks when your starting quarterback is up against

your favourite NFL team.

Business is a place where relationships must be put on the backburner in the name of good business and success.

I believe that while productivity might take a hit, there are some quality business

lessons that can be taken from Fantasy Football.

Know When to Hold’em,Know When to Fold’emNever Bench Your StudsRemove All Personal BiasIdentify Potential Issues

Before They AriseEvery Week is a New WeekBe Willing To Take Risks

REMOVE ALLPERSONAL BIAS

Internal conflicts will arise in the workplace and, to get through it, personal feelings must be removed and

candidness must be embraced.

Know When to Hold’em,Know When to Fold’emNever Bench Your StudsRemove All Personal BiasIdentify Potential Issues

Before They AriseEvery Week is a New WeekBe Willing To Take Risks

IDENTIFY POTENTIAL ISSUESBEFORE THEY ARISE

In Fantasy Football, when difficult situations arise, like all of your players having overlapping weeks off, or

horrible playing conditions during playoffs, you need to be able to make trades and moves that put you in a

good position for the rest of your season.

IDENTIFY POTENTIAL ISSUESBEFORE THEY ARISE

Far too many businesses focus on right now rather than next week. They don’t plan ahead and are

resultantly caught by surprise when they don’t get the results they hoped for.

When you’re looking for a win in Fantasy Football, it’s much better to play a future hall of famer who hasn’t played well the last two weeks

than it is to play a no name on a hot streak.

Likewise in business, you must do whatever it takes to keep your top talent passionate, engaged and motivated to achieve success.

IDENTIFY POTENTIAL ISSUESBEFORE THEY ARISE

It’s important to always be thinking 10 steps ahead to ensure you have your bases covered. Don’t get caught red-faced with a

problem that could have easily been avoided.

A star will perform best when he/she is: 1. challenged 2. given freedom, and 3. surrounded by intelligent people

You never bench them. The studs on your team need to be celebrated, invested in and rewarded.

EVERY WEEK IS A NEW WEEK

While it’s important to plan ahead, you most certainly need to focus on each week and never take your opponent for granted.

As soon as you feel relaxed with your Fantasy Football team, you need to start to panic.

Week10

EVERY WEEK IS A NEW WEEK

Likewise in business, the moment you become content with your own skills is the moment you will start to settle.

Every week is a new week with the same chance at winning and making your team better. And every day is a new opportunity

to be better than the person you were yesterday.

Take advantage of it!

Week10

The last yet most important lesson from Fantasy Football is the importance of taking risks.

Sometimes you need to ignore the status quo and do something that is against the norm.

Internal conflicts will arise in the workplace and, to get through it, personal feelings must be removed and

candidness must be embraced.

You need be willing to break rules and be comfortable with the fact that some people

are going to call you nuts.

RULESRULES

In Fantasy Football, when difficult situations arise, like all of your players having overlapping weeks off, or

horrible playing conditions during playoffs, you need to be able to make trades and moves that put you in a

good position for the rest of your season.

You might fail. You might succeed.

You’ll only know if you try.

Far too many businesses focus on right now rather than next week. They don’t plan ahead and are

resultantly caught by surprise when they don’t get the results they hoped for.

SUCCESS

FAILURE

Instead of sitting on the sidelines, take a leap and build your wings

on the way down.

It’s important to always be thinking 10 steps ahead to ensure you have your bases covered. Don’t get caught red-faced with a

problem that could have easily been avoided.

And who knows…Maybe it will lead to a championship.

While it’s important to plan ahead, you most certainly need to focus on each week and never take your opponent for granted.

As soon as you feel relaxed with your Fantasy Football team, you need to start to panic.

@TheCoolestCoolwww.rosssimmonds.com

Likewise in business, the moment you become content with your own skills is the moment you will start to settle.

Every week is a new week with the same chance at winning and making your team better. And every day is a new opportunity

to be better than the person you were yesterday.

Take advantage of it!